Ajax Zappitello, one of three Terps to earn an all-league selection, was tabbed as the conference’s top defender.
Three Maryland men’s lacrosse players garnered All-Big Ten honors, highlighted by senior defender Ajax Zappitello being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earning an all-conference first-team selection.
Graduate faceoff specialist Luke Wierman and junior attacker Eric Spanos were named to the all-conference second team.
Zappitello, who became the fourth Terp in as many years to be named the top defender in the conference, was the anchor of a Maryland defense which has allowed 10.8 goals per game. He finished the regular season with 18 caused turnovers and 14 ground balls.
Wierman, the program’s all-time leader in faceoff wins, earned his third straight all-conference selection. This season, he won just over 59% of his draws, second among qualifying players only to Michigan’s Justin Wietfeldt, who was named to the first team.
Spanos, meanwhile, posted the best season of his three-year career. In addition to his 17 goals and 11 assists, which each rank top-five on the team, he propelled the Terps to victories over Princeton and Ohio State with clutch four-goal performances.
Next Thursday, the Terps will take on the winner of Saturday’s Big Ten quarterfinal matchup between Penn State and Rutgers.